Longwall productivity continues upward trend, jumps 30% in year's time

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Coal; (United States)

OSTI ID:6945972

Comb, T H

Longwall unit shift productivity for American coal operators in 1987 jumped an astonishing 30% over a strong 1986 performance. A survey of 48 of the 96 operating faces for 1987 indicates unit shift productivity rose from 1,234 clean tons of coal in 1986 to 1,609 tons in 1987. This continues the strong upward trend of the past two years that has seen average unit shift productivity rising 47%, from 1,092 clean tons to 1,609 tons. The accompanying table shows the detailed results from the 1987 Longwall Productivity Survey. The survey results from 48 faces are separated into three cutting ranges: high (80 to 120 in.; medium (53 to 80 in.); and low (below 53 in.). Average, maximum and minimum values are shown for each range. The high cutting range (80 to 120 in.) showed the best productivity increase (39%), rising from 1,603 tons per unit shift to 2,223 tons in the span of a year. Frequency and difficulty of equipment moves, however, prevented this increase from fully benefiting the total face tons per man-day, which rose only 20% to 156 tons.

• Research Organization: Mining Consultants, Inc., 2052 Manor Drive, Lexington, KY (US)
• OSTI ID: 6945972
• Journal Information: Coal; (United States), Journal Name: Coal; (United States) Vol. 25:8; ISSN COALE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
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Lignite
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COAL MINING
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
LONGWALL MINING
MINING
PRODUCTIVITY
UNDERGROUND MINING